PS: Super long chapter of 5700 words. Everyone should work harder in the new month.
Sitting in the palace of Culona, Suria reprimanded her son sternly. "Since you're already in Culona, you should control these things. You're already 16 years old. Don't you think these things have nothing to do with you? It's between me and your father, isn't it?"
Devenhill sat down, and the baron was a little dejected. "I don't have a reason to do that, mother. Unlike aunt Amelia, who not only gave Frey a group of bodyguards, but also gave him a position in Nuer's army. I don't have any position. Even if you ask me to order uncle Bertrand or uncle Raymond, they won't listen to me!"
Suria was amused by Devonshire's words. Knight King shook his head. "You're a baron, Devonshire. You're the heir of the Sun King. I'm not asking you to lead an army immediately, but you should at least learn and experience it. Just stay by Kalad's side in this battle."
"Yes, mother." Devonshire nodded quickly.
"You're growing up now. Your father is too busy. He also has a bunch of aunties to take care of, so he doesn't have much energy to teach you." Suria looked at her son, who had both Laing's and her own features. She smiled. "Frey has grown up to be an excellent general in Nur. Your brother is teaching him diligently in Nur. As for you, with your father around, you don't need to help with internal affairs, foreign affairs, or military matters. But that doesn't mean you can enjoy yourself. Do you understand?"
"I understand, mother. I've read all the books for knights and swordmaster," Devonshire said. Devhill continued, "Mother Lilith has been urging me, and Sister Nestra and Sister Alohan have often sparred with me."
Sulia nodded, and the Knight Queen refocused her attention on how to solve the crisis at hand, but she noticed that Devenhill was hesitating. "If you have anything to say, just say it, son."
"Mom, I followed Godfather around the barracks. The situation isn't very good." Devenhill thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth. "Godfather said that there's no problem with 3300 field soldiers, but … Mother, I have a feeling …"
"How do you feel?" Suria's eyes lit up. The Knight King put down the parchment in his hand and looked at his son seriously.
"There are some emotions among the soldiers. Mom, the soldiers in the garrison army who are armed to collect taxes can fight, but … these people are difficult to control. Most of the guards in the palace are veterans. Many of them have been in the army for more than seven years and are lethargic. Many of the soldiers have made military exploits, but because they are too old or not strong enough, or for some other reason, they were not selected into the elite infantry regiment or even the Old Guard and were assigned to guard the palace. They have some grievances, "Devonshire said seriously." It's hard to say if such an army will obey you on the battlefield. Besides, Godfather directly rushed into the barracks to seize power. Some of them have some grievances, but they just don't say it. "
"Anything else?" Suria smiled faintly.
"There's also Le-Angouland's Marine Corps. This army was disbanded and only recently rebuilt." Devonshire clenched his fists. The Baron said seriously, "Even though those chosen are all outstanding freedmen, most of them are reorganized from Obien's old soldiers. They probably have some dissatisfaction in their hearts. Most of them are sly old soldiers. They can fight very well, but whether or not they are willing to give their lives is a problem."
"Yes." Suria nodded deeply. The blonde knight finally looked at her son seriously. Devonshire had indeed grown up.
"Child, do you know why your father is so good at leading soldiers? Do you know why his army is so strong?" Suria asked with a smile.
"I know. Father leads the army because of strict military discipline and good treatment," Devonshire immediately replied. "Father's soldiers don't care about anything else. The financial management of the army is strict, orderly, open, and transparent. To put it bluntly, the soldiers are given as much money as they are given. There is no hiding or embezzlement. The monthly salary is paid on time and in full. Any officer who embezzles the salary will be sentenced to death. There is no room for negotiation."
"Secondly, Father treats the soldiers as human beings. Whether they are knights or serfs, he treats them equally. He treats them well. If they perform meritorious deeds, he will report them to the higher-ups in a timely manner. The reward and punishment system is very transparent and open. A promotion channel is presented in front of everyone. It is fair and efficient."
"Since Father's soldiers are well paid and guaranteed, the reward and punishment system is strict, efficient, and transparent, and there are many opportunities for promotion. They can even become the legendary Holy Grail Guards. Naturally, the soldiers are willing to fight to the death," Devonshire concluded.
"You are right, but that's not all." Suria nodded slightly. Knight King then said, "Apart from these accidents, the most important thing is the inculcation of the spirit of chivalry and the establishment of national pride."
Sulia stood up and the Knight Queen sighed. "If it was only because of the fear of torture and the temptation of money, the old guards would not have become a powerful army that could look down upon the world in just a dozen years. It was your father's endless glorious victories that filled the people of Brittania with pride. In their eyes, there was no enemy that could not be defeated, and there was no goal that could not be conquered. The royal flag was the symbol of victory. At the same time, the chivalry that your father brought and popularized again not only set the benchmark, but more importantly, it was possible for them to become the guards of the Holy Grail, to gain the recognition of the Lady and achieve the true meaning of class advancement. Therefore, under the perfect combination of morality and benefits, under the call of the bloodline, the nation, and the pride of the country, your father's old guards possessed such terrifying combat strength."
"I see." Devonshire seemed to have understood something.
"So, watch carefully, Devonshire." Suria put down the cup of black tea. Knight King's ocean-blue eyes burned with the flame of faith. "Faced with these two different situations, we have to solve them separately."
"Solve them separately?" Devonshire was curious.
"Yes. Faced with these soldiers who have complaints in their hearts but have the duty to protect the land, we have to use one plan." Suria nodded. Knight King sneered. "Faced with the other kind of people, we have to use another plan."
"Come to the tea party in the afternoon. Come and see how mother deals with these people."
"Yes!"
That afternoon, the largest tea party in the history of the Culona Palace was held. Hundreds of noble carriages blocked the streets outside the palace. Hundreds of nobles and noble ladies were dressed to the nines. Even at this moment, the knights and nobles still believed that their Sun King and Sun Queen had a way to solve the problem, especially after seeing the tricolor flag of the Old Guard.
Suria didn't wear a formal dress today. The blonde knight wore her most classic white military uniform with the family crest of a pure white pegasus embroidered on it. Two golden braids extended from the epaulettes to the chest. Her bright blonde long curly hair was held in place by a hairband, and it fell down her shoulders like a golden waterfall. She wore the most classic blue pleated skirt, and her slender legs were wrapped in opaque black velvet stockings, paired with a pair of black pearl strappy heels.
Knight King was the center of attention in Culona, the flower of Brittany, and the source of most of the fashion trends in both the nobles and the commoners. She had a proud figure, a noble and elegant aura, and a graceful and gorgeous face that lit up the whole place. No noble lady or lady present could compare to her. If Laing was the summer sun, hot and full of majesty, then Suria was the winter sun, warming the land and lighting up hope.
Devenhill was also in a military uniform, with a pair of bright red pants and a knight's sword hanging from his waist. He followed behind his mother. It was said that the Twilight sisters liked Devenhill in his uniform, especially at night.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"Greetings."
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, your arrival is a blessing to Culona and the knights."
The nobles all bowed, and Suria accepted the greeting. She then gestured for everyone to sit down. "Everyone, sit down."
Several Marquises, more than twenty Earls, more than a hundred Barons, and even more Royal Knights sat down one after another. Sulia reached out and took out an exquisite vibrating gold key. The maid took it and opened the Queen's tea cabinet. The Assamese tea leaves imported from the Far East were taken out, and black tea was brewed on the spot.
Suria even personally served tea to the marquises. Knight King's elegant figure mesmerized the nobles' ladies. Under Suria's influence, military uniforms and pleated skirts were especially popular among the noble ladies and ladies, and the knights and nobles also had the habit of drinking afternoon tea.
After a round of black tea and dozens of plates of pastries, the royal garden was filled with sounds of satisfaction.
Everyone was waiting for Suria to speak, and the Knight King naturally knew. Suria found an opportunity to put down her teacup and said softly, "Everyone, everyone in Brittany, I'm sure you all know why I've called you here for afternoon tea."
Everyone was silent.
"Culona is in danger, and Brittany is in danger!" Suria's voice was soft, but to the nobles' ears, it was as heavy as a thousand pounds. Her dignified manner was exactly the same as Laing's. Knight King sat on Laing's throne. "The Army of Chaos is less than 120 kilometers away from Culona!"
The audience was in an uproar. All the knights and nobles knew about the current situation. Of course, none of the knights and nobles had any thoughts of luck. Because all the cowards had fled. The remaining knights and nobles who dared to attend the banquet were all determined.
"We know what Her Majesty means." "Brittania is our kingdom, Currona is our capital, and this is our home. My queen, we don't know how you came back, but you didn't abandon us. How could we abandon you?" Andre Jean Massena stood up and yelled at everyone, "Brittania is our kingdom, and Currona is our capital. This is our home, my queen. We don't know how you came back, but you didn't abandon us.
"That's right! His Majesty the Sun King and Her Majesty the Queen have brought us so much glory and victory, saving the kingdom time and time again. We have all seen it with our own eyes! "Another marquis also stood up." If there's anything you need us to do, please instruct us, Queen! "
"Your Majesty, please!" The nobles and knights all stood up.
"Good, very good. It seems that all of you understand the current situation, and are determined to live and die with the capital." Suria put down her teacup, and the blonde knight smiled. "Well then, I'll start now. Before noon tomorrow, I'd like all of you to gather all of your family's private soldiers, guards, children of age, and squires in the Culona Palace! Prepare your own weapons and equipment. I need your strength. I want to defeat Prince Sigwald and his Chaos minions! I want to protect the Knight King. "
Everyone was silent.
"Of course, I won't force you." Suria saw the hesitation on the faces of the nobles and knights. The Knight King then slammed his teacup on the silver plate. "Those who are willing, please send them over. Those who are unwilling, drink this tea and leave Culona as soon as you can. Since you don't want to live and die with the kingdom, then there's no need for you to be nobles of the Knight King!"
Everyone was silent again.
Devenhill's expression changed slightly. He looked at Kalad, who was standing next to him. Kalad had a fierce look on his face. He was already remembering people.
A minute later, Marquis Massena stepped forward. The old marquis slammed his teacup on the ground and roared, "Your Majesty, you're looking down on us nobles too much! Which one of us didn't have a Grail Knight as our ancestor who fought for the kingdom? Which one of us didn't go to the battlefield and serve the lady? "
"Yes! Your Majesty, we are nobles who share the kingdom's blood. Only if the kingdom lives can we live long! "
"Say no more, Your Majesty. Which one of us doesn't have hundreds of private soldiers? Which one of us doesn't have food and savings? Which one of us doesn't have children of age? We'll follow you no matter what! "
"My Lady, the House of Drang responds!"
"The House of Casimir responds!"
"The House of John responds!"
"The House of Deschamps responds!"
"We have money and men, Your Majesty. Even if we don't have anything else, we still have our old lives!" The old Marquis Shale leaned on his walking stick. His hair and beard were half white, but his voice was louder than anyone else's.
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow afternoon, I, the Sun Queen Suria, will await your arrival in the palace." Suria nodded in satisfaction.
"We obey the Queen's orders!"
Their roars shook the sky, and their determination was like thunder. The nobles and knights immediately said that they would donate most of their wealth, all of their family's private soldiers, and all of their children. Many of them even said that they would personally go to the battlefield.
Suria smiled.
Alright, this round was over.
It was time for the next round.
After the tea party, Suria immediately brought the Old Guard to the big square of the palace.
Here, the 4,000 soldiers carefully selected by Kalad had all arrived. Most of these soldiers were veterans who had been in the army for more than seven years and could not be promoted, or veterans who had just retired after participating in the Obien Great Expedition and were temporarily recalled by Kalad for less than three years. These veterans looked blankly at Suleah who was standing on the stage, not knowing what their queen wanted them to do.
However, they soon had an answer.
Hundreds of big boxes! They were filled with all kinds of gold and silver coins!
There was going to be a big battle, and Queen Suria was going to give everyone a reward!
100000 gold coins, 200000 silver coins, and everyone who nodded would get a share!
These soldiers had never seen so much money before. Large amounts of glistening gold coins and shining silver coins were put into bags on the spot. The heavy weight made all the soldiers wild with joy.
This, this was too generous, wasn't it? Was this Her Majesty? Love, love, love!
Her Majesty is our only sun!
Suria walked among the soldiers with her Angel Faction Sacred Sword in hand. She was 1.75 meters tall, and with her high-heeled boots, she was taller than most of the soldiers. She looked at the soldiers who received large amounts of money and smiled. "Everyone, the battle we are about to face may be the most difficult battle you will ever face in your life. Soldiers, I, Suria Kumani Antrel de Wainford, tell you that I will not mistreat any soldier who has shed blood for the country. These rewards are the best proof! Do you believe me? "
"Yes! Yes! Yes! "The soldiers were excited. She had already taken out the money, what was there to not believe?
"I swear that those who die in battle will receive sufficient compensation. Your children will have priority in inheriting your positions. And if you survive this battle, then women, children, territory, wealth, honor, and even the conferment of the Old Guard and the reward of the Lady Holy Grail will be given to you. Everything will be yours. These are all what you desire and pursue for your whole life! Tell me, tell your queen, do you want them? "
"Yes!"
"Do you want them?" Suria's voice spread throughout the palace.
"Yes!"
"Do you really want them???"
"Yes!!!" The soldiers shouted themselves hoarse, as if they were crazy. They were like boiling oil on a hot pan, completely boiling.
Who didn't want to be a free person? Who didn't want to be the Coldstream Guards or even the Old Guard? Who didn't want to be a knight or even the legendary and glorious Holy Grail Guards?
The veterans were not young, most of them were 25 to 30 years old. This might be their last chance in life.
"Good! In the name of the Sun Queen, I hereby promise that as long as the soldiers survive, they will be incorporated into the elite infantry and promoted to free people. As for free people, they will be promoted to honorary free people and be incorporated into the Coldstream Guards or the Old Guard. In addition, I have prepared 50 knight titles for you to take! " Sulia returned to the stage. "But I need your strength. I need you to help me, to help this country, to resist foreign enemies, to fight for the Lady and the King, to fight for Brittania. Can you do that?"
"Yes!"
"Loyalty! Unity! Victory! Obey my orders, uphold military discipline, and fight bravely. Can you do it? "
"Yes! Yes! Yes! " The momentum was vast and mighty like the rising tide. At this moment, there was only one voice in the hearts of the 4000 soldiers, and that was to die for the Queen!
"Very good!" Suria laughed heartily. The Knight King then pointed the Angel League to the sky. "Warriors of Brittany, please recognize this tricolor flag!"
The tricolor flag fluttered above the palace. The glory of the Sun King was here.
How could this not make the soldiers' blood boil? How could these soldiers' hearts not waver? The glory of the Sun King seemed to be right in front of them. Just yesterday, as long as they followed this flag, everyone was a participant and a part of the military medal.
That was the call of the bloodline. That was the deep pride of the country and the people. That was the recognition of the Royal Family. That was the determination to protect the homeland.
Under the double stimulation of material and moral, all the soldiers knelt down.
"My Lady, we swear to serve the Queen with our lives. If there is anyone who disobeys, please punish us!"
The next day, when the army gathered outside the city of Culona, Suria had already gathered an army of nearly 15000 soldiers. This army was made up of the nobles' private army, the elite veterans of the Culona Garrison, and a large number of veterans of the Obien Expedition. They marched out of Culona.
A catchy military song adapted from the Skaven Rat Men to mock the enemy rang out in the army.
"My Queen, what is that floating in the wind in front of Her Majesty's warhorse?"
"It is the Queen's will that wants us to conquer the enemy. Don't you know that the tricolor flag is here?"
"Dong Dong Dong Ya Lu Dong Ya Lu Da ~"
"Ten Thousand Riders a Day, Ten Thousand Riders a Day, Queen Suria! Do you Chaos bastards also want to fight?"
"Brothers of the Old Guard, quickly plunge your sword into the enemy's chest! Plunge into the enemy's chest!"
"Dong Dong Dong Ya Lu Da ~"
"You Chaos bastards who heard this, may I ask where you are running to?"
"Sigwald is the Chosen One of Perverts. Are you abandoning him and running back to Kurgan, Kurgan?"
"Dong Dong Dong Ya Lu Da ~"
"Who isn't sacrificing their lives for the country when they kill on the battlefield to build their careers? Who isn't sacrificing their lives for the country? "
"Brittany warriors fought bravely. The Queen will reward them. Don't you want to win the Holy Grail?"
"Dong Dong Dong Ya Lu Da ~"
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